Mikel Arteta expressed fierce disappointment after the VAR intervention that nullified a penalty awarded to Eberechi Eze, describing the reversal as "completely unacceptable". The incident occurred in the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, a match that ultimately ended in a 1-1 stalemate. In the 78th minute, substitute Eze found himself in a promising position inside the box.
He was brought down by Atletico defender David Hancko, and the contact appeared to be clear foot‑on‑foot, suggesting a straightforward penalty that could have restored Arsenal's lead. However, the VAR team intervened, prompting referee Danny Makkelie to consult the monitor. After reviewing several angles, Makkelie decided to overturn his original decision and disallow the spot‑kick, leaving the score level as the game headed toward the return leg at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta did not hold back in his post‑match interview with TNT Sports.
"When we got back to the dressing room and I watched the incident again with the players, it was extremely disappointing and infuriating. The rule was broken and it altered the trajectory of the tie," he said, adding that he was "very, very upset". He continued, "The whole sequence shows clear contact.
You make a call, you cannot keep re‑examining it thirteen times and then change it. At this level, that's simply unacceptable. It's the wrong decision." Midfielder Declan Rice echoed Arteta's frustration, insisting that the penalty should have stood and suggesting that the crowd's reaction may have influenced the referee.
"It was a clear penalty and I don't understand why it wasn't given. I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the referee's mind," Rice said. He also highlighted the differences between UEFA's approach and that of the Premier League, noting that officials in both competitions must be exceedingly cautious because they are under intense scrutiny.
UEFA later issued a brief statement on its website, explaining that the Atletico player involved (No. 17) did not commit a foul on the opponent.
The governing body declined to elaborate further when Sky Sports News sought clarification about the decision‑making process behind the penalty reversal. UEFA reiterated its policy that VAR should intervene only in "clear and obvious" errors, particularly in match‑changing moments. When asked whether Arsenal would lodge a formal protest with UEFA, Arteta replied, "I leave that to the club to decide what's the best thing to do. Now they're not going to give us a penalty.
That's it. That's gone." The match itself was a drama of penalties.
Arsenal had taken the lead at halftime through a spot‑kick converted by Viktor Gyokeres after another clash involving Hancko, who had earlier bundled the striker from behind. In the second half, Atletico equalised when VAR identified a handball by Ben White after Marcos Llorente's shot struck his knee and then his hand.
Despite the ball's deflection, the referee awarded a penalty, which Julian Alvarez converted. Arteta acknowledged that the interpretation of handball in the Champions League differs from the Premier League, stating, "They have been consistent with that.
If you are going to give a penalty for this kind of thing you have to accept it." The controversy surrounding the handball decision was further amplified by a similarly contentious call in the other semi‑final, where Alphonso Davies was penalised in PSG's victory over Bayern Munich. Former player and Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher took to X to demand clearer guidelines from UEFA on handball, calling the current situation "a stain on the competition" and urging the governing body to standardise the rule. Reflecting on his team's overall performance in Madrid, Arteta praised his squad's resilience, saying, "I'm very proud of the boys. The way they've handled the context for nine and a half months has been remarkable.
I've seen some of the best teams in the world fall apart, but we kept our composure." He admitted the result was not what Arsenal wanted, but remained optimistic about the upcoming second leg. "We wanted to win, and at least we have the chance to do it in front of our own fans. We want to be in the final, and in a week's time we will have the opportunity to make that happen." The controversy surrounding the VAR decisions highlights the ongoing debate about technology's role in football, the consistency of rule interpretation across competitions, and the pressure officials face from both fans and players.
As Arsenal prepares for the decisive second leg, the club will have to balance the disappointment of the first‑leg outcome with the belief that they can still achieve their goal of reaching the Champions League final.